SCHOOL NEWS
April 16, 2008

Congratulations to our PTA Board for the '08/09 School Year!:
We would like to announce our newly elected list of Don Juan Avila PTA Board Members, President: Colleen Moody, Vice President: Deanna Long, Secretary: Karen Fields, Treasurer: Abra Coil, Auditor: Kristin Jacobs, Historian: Lyn Micheals, Parliamentarian: Sue Huffman, Membership: Sue Stanley. Thank you to these wonderful parents who have volunteered their time for the PTA. 

Jog-a-thon is Friday, April 18th:
The sponsors for this event have their banners on our fence. Thank you to the YMCA, Aliso Shore Dentistry, Alpha Tutoring, Renaissance Club Sport, Elite Soccer League, Royal Jewelers, Super Suppers, HCVT, Gator Swim Team, Neighborhood Cup, Smoothie King, Aliso Viejo School of the Arts, Art Camoia, and Padzur Pilates. A BIG thank you to these sponsors for making a difference at DJAES!

SPECIAL EDITION:  THE CUSD FOUNDATION RESPONDS TO THE CLASS SIZE REDUCTION CRISIS
You are invited to attend a “Town Hall” meeting with Stacey Flynn, Executive Director for the CUSD Foundation.  Stacey will present the approved Campaign and be available to answer your questions.   Along with CSR Campaign discussion, we will also have fundraising event information available at the Town Hall meeting.  Please bring your questions, ideas and donations to the MPR at Canyon Vista on Tuesday, April 22nd at 9:00am.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Dear CUSD Parent,

We are asking you to support the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) Foundation’s fundraising campaign to ensure smaller class sizes in Grades K – 12 at all of our schools.  Currently, the Capistrano Unified School District is anticipating a $27 million reduction to the 2008-09 education budget caused by the state’s budget crisis.  This will dramatically affect the quality of education for our students and reduce the number of teachers if it cannot be offset by other means.

To reach our goal, the CUSD Foundation is asking parents to donate $400 per student, or any amount they can afford, to retain the 266 teachers we would lose due to budget cuts.   Superintendent Carter has promised that, “100% of all the money donated to this CSR Campaign will go toward teachers.  We must all support the CUSD Foundation as they take on this enormous challenge.”

As you are making your donation, please ask your employer if they offer an Employee Matching Program.  Also, if you know of a company that would like to make a corporate donation, please contact our Executive Director, Stacey Flynn at staceyf@cusdfoundation.org.  Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

We all hope the state’s budget crisis will be resolved, but hope is not a strategy.  The State Legislature’s final decision regarding our budget does not coincide with the school year.  We will not know whether any of the $27 million will be restored to the district’s budget until most likely, late summer or early fall.

By working together and acting NOW, we can save these teachers’ jobs and maintain our current class sizes.   Please donate today by going to our website at www.cusdfoundation.org to download a donation payment form or to donate through PayPal or Google Checkout and to review our Top Ten Frequently Asked Questions.

If you have any further questions or would like to help, please contact Stacey Flynn at staceyf@cusdfoundation.org or at (949) 234-9571.

Thank you!

Blake Stephens

Parent & CSR Campaign Chairman

CUSD Foundation